Agenda item

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The Assistant Director for Operations and Commercial and Cemeteries and Crematorium Manager presented the report

Representatives from CDS Group gave a presentation to the Panel.

The Chair invited Andrew Thornalley, Local Funeral Director to speak on this item.

The Chair invited questions and comments from the Panel.

The Chair, Councillor Collop sought clarification on how many plots were taken at the cemetery last year. and was advised there was an average of 30 new burials each year.

The Vice-Chair, Councillor Kunes sought clarification on the groundwater level on Gaywood Allotment site and the CDS Representative confirmed at the beginning of the investigation it was 1.6 metres, and new burials were between 1.3 to 1.8 metres depending on single or double depth burials and 1 metre above groundwater level. He confirmed groundwater was needed to be a minimum of 2.4 metres. 

Councillor Long commented the Environmental Agency needed to provide flexibility. He highlighted the significance of finding an interim solution due to the timescales of a new cemetery and although it was not a mandatory service the Council provided but was recognised by the public. He questioned if under draining the land was a solution.

The Chair, Councillor Collop asked if water could be drained has been carried out at Florence Fields.

The Assistant Director for Operations and Commercial explained the relationship with the Environment Agency was exemplar. He added the Environment Agency were the regulators and had to issue the permit for an extension or a new site. He explained they were flexible with considering each individual ground space. He provided assurance all plots and burials would be honoured as previously agreed.

The Cemeteries and Crematorium Manager highlighted the relationship with the Environment Agency was key to delivering the bereavement services and continuing to operate the site by delivering the committed burials.

Representatives of the CDS Group confirmed the Environment Agency had been consulted and had confirmed use of the existing site was not feasible. He explained dewatering required a discharge consent to the sewage system as surface water would be contaminated.

Councillor Long appreciated and understood the complexity of drainage and sewage. He commented it was Environmental Agency national policy he was referring to not local Officers.

Councillor Heneghan questioned the gap with the Gayton Road Cemetery being closed and a new cemetery not opening until May 2028. She sought clarification and assurance on where burials were to be made, she highlighted the report included Hunstanton and questioned the delay in this being resolved. She hoped local funeral directors were listened to and invited to future meetings as appropriate.

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Ring commented on the long journey of the cemetery and highlighted South Wootton were allowing plots to be bought and there was space in Hunstanton which could be used. He highlighted to the Panel it would not be the current Borough Council that would be delivering the Cemetery due to LGR. He reminded the Panel this was not a statutory obligation, and he could not see another option than to close Gayton Road Cemetery. He asked for CDS Group to explain the changes in regulations of the Environmental Agency.

The representative from CDS Group explained there were updates to the Environment Agency regulations in 2022 and 2024, which meant the regulations for groundwater and buffer zones were more stringent. He reiterated that this was outside the geographical extent of the existing cemetery and therefore treated under the new regulations in which the Environmental Agency was to act as a consultee and perimeter. He commented there was no resolution for the site.

Councillor Kemp commented she understood a bespoke environmental permit was needed for dewatering. She sought clarification, on what criteria, other than flood risk, were all the sites were discounted. She asked if there was any disused or industrial land which could be used, and sites be revisited. 

The representative from CDS Group explained the predominant reason a site had not been identified within the boundary was due to being urbanized and any open space were parks. He added further accessibility was considered for sites which were two or more miles out of the boundary.

In response to Councillor Kemp the representative from CDS Group explained usually cemetery sites accommodated around 800 burials per acre therefore sites over 3 acres were recommended.

Councillor Long was concerned with the second recommendation and proposed the following recommendation – to urgently review all potential sites within a suitable distance of King’s Lynn and explore opportunities for developing a burial cemetery within a quicker timescale as possible.

Councillor Kunes seconded the proposed recommendation. The Panel agreed the additional recommendation.

Councillor Colwell asked in terms of research, how many test pits were dug in the Gaywood allotment site.

and it was explained that tier two was trial pits and tier three included groundwater monitoring. He concluded all areas of the site were non- compliant. He added that the Defra map was considered around vulnerability and would circulate to the Panel.

The Chair, Councillor Collop questioned if the deadline for closure of the cemetery needed to be April 2026.

The Cemeteries and Crematorium Manager explained the right of burials included up to 2 burials which consequently meant 30 burials could become 60. He commented this was unlikely; however, capacity was dwindling. He added, it also allowed for capacity for commitments in other parts of the cemetery for non- compliant graves. 

The Assistant Director for Operations and Commercial explained the 1^st April 2026 provided clarity of expectation to members, funeral directors and others. He explained Hunstanton was n cemetery was operational and included in the report as an alternative. He understood the frustration in terms of timescales and acknowledged it was a difficult decision with no easy solution.

Andrew Thornalley, local funeral director summarised his comments to the Panel. 

RESOLVED: The Panel did not support the following recommendation to Cabinet:

Cabinet Resolves: 

1)    Close Gayton Road Cemetery to new full body burials from 1^st April 2026 unless operational circumstances require this date to be brought forward.

The Panel made amendments to the second recommendation;

2)    To urgently review all potential sites within a suitable distance of King’s Lynn and explore opportunities for developing a burial cemetery within a quicker timescale as possible.